In Case You Missed It - Oprah's Purse Saga The Alternative Answer

Oprah Winfrey is harping on the lack of service she received from a Swiss store clerk, and now claims that she was the victim of racism.

But here's an alternative answer for the snub that the once "Queen of Television" experienced. It comes from an unidentified Irishman/woman.

"It is understandable that the incident in which a shop assistant (presumably white) is reported to have suggested that a very expensive crocodile-skin handbag would be too expensive for Oprah Winfrey has been interpreted as an instance of racism (News, August 10).

Perhaps, however, there is an alternative – and much more charitable interpretation. Is it not conceivable, that the shop assistant, quoted as stating, "No, you don't want to see that one, because that one will cost too much," was expressing disdain for the fact her employer was prepared to pander to the minute and spoilt proportion of the world's population that might be induced into spending £22,500 ($34,767.00 USD) on a handbag?

Perhaps it was displayed at that vulgar price as a rather poor joke, albeit at the expense of the huge number of the world's inhabitants, who cannot conceive of such an amount of money. The shop assistant might have been embarrassed at her employer's joke and credited Miss Winfrey with the intelligence to recognize the price as a joke – and Miss Winfrey as a person likely to share her opinion."

The original post is here: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/letters/was-oprah-bag-drama-altruism-29493319.html

Cedar's Take: It is not surprising the media jumped on this story based on the apparent racism. Yet no one points out that while Oprah is welcome to spend her money as she likes, that she would publicly acknowledge that she would even consider dropping an obscene amount on a handbag is proof that she lives in an alternative universe one where apparently money is no concern and racism is non-existent.